FABRIC AND WEAVE, ELEMENTS OF HORROR AND THE CONVERGING TRILOGY
All occupations have their obligatory tools…for carpenters, these might include the saw and the hammer…for writers there are the old faithful standards…metaphor and analogy, among others. For the duration of this piece it is my intention to wield both…liberally. When one turns to the tedious (and often difficult) task of subdivision…the pigeon-holing of works of fiction into genres, I liken the exercise to laying out pieces of fabric. Employing both intent and creativity, the writer then sets about embossing a pattern on said fabric to create a story. Each genre is a different type of fabric and those who work with this fabric learn to impose their own design on this distinct material…with varying degrees of success, depending upon their skill. If one was to try to associate a fabric with the genre of horror, the material conjured would be undoubtedly rich and dark.
The challenge for the horror author is to weave a pattern that respects the fabric into which it is being woven while displaying a creativity that is unique to the creator.
This could well be horror’s biggest failing…though I will qualify that statement by saying that this is especially true of the cinema…more so than written horror. Continuing with the fabric analogy, most screen efforts offer the fabric and neglect the weave. Is this a failure of skill or intent? The precise answer is difficult to discern, but the end result is brutally clear…gore-spattered products lacking both depth and content that rely almost exclusively on special effects to entice audiences to part with their hard-earned nickel. The proliferation of this type of horror offering has alienated many from even considering horror as genre worthy of consideration. I tend to think that intent is often the culprit…If my approach to weaving the pattern is merely repulse, then the weave (and thus, the appeal) of the end product can only be simplistic. This is very much like the definition of pornography…to my mind, something is pornographic only if its intent is strictly to display sexual activity where character, plot and all other traditional aspects are merely incidental. The prime ingredient necessary to creating an enduring horror story (or any story, for that matter) is often the most conspicuously absent in horror films…character empathy. Horror is not the only genre guilty of this transgression of course…North American cinema is replete with movies that are all flash and bang and no content. The fault lies as much with the consumers as it does with the producers…there are many who regard plot and character development as the boring fillers between action scenes.
When writing my own horror trilogy, The Converging, I strove mightily to avoid this pitfall. The series is rooted firmly in the dark soil of the horror genre, but in weaving the pattern, I set out to inculcate strong dramatic elements into the fabric. The tone of the three segments is unrelentingly serious and intense…conspicuously absent are the clichéd one-liners and sophomoric witticism that have come to be stock in trade for many protagonists today. When confronted with the terrifying realities of the novel, the primary characters feel fear that is near-paralyzing in its intensity…where simple movement becomes an act of heroism in itself. I’ve also expended a great deal of effort in defining the characters who populate the novels (both good and bad) so the reader might come to gain an understanding of what motivates them to do the things they do over the course of the three volumes. To my mind, creating character empathy allows for a more atavistic understanding of the horror to which a character is being subjected. In the end, this horror trilogy stands as a dramatic recounting of one woman’s thirty-five year struggle to overcome the cataclysmic event that destroyed the foundations of her life…if I’ve done my job with any degree of skill, the fact that these cataclysmic events were woven on the fabric of the horror genre should matter not a whit.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Smashwords Review On "Closures In Blood"
Review by: Brian DeGrechie on Jul. 27, 2010 Rating: 5/5 stars
The author is a gifted story teller along with an amazing imagination which permeates through the last book of The Converging Trilogy, "Closures In Blood". I will focus my review on the events of the novel I found intriguing and thoroughly entertaining and less on the plot.
First a little background information. At the end of bk#2 of the trilogy, Elizabeth killed herself instead of her son which despite being evil she could not bring herself to do. Nathaniel was one of Cynara's enemies who also held Elizabeth under her dark, evil spell. Once free of Cynara's hold on her she spent five years as an immortal during which she developed compassion, debated moral consequences to her actions and became a very caring entity.
Few authors can portray a character like Elizabeth for almost two entire novels then convince a reader that the deep down moral fabric of the character is in essence very pure. Author George Straatman achieved this very successfully.
In "Closures In Blood", Elizabeth faces a complex scheme by demons who are afraid of her. Despite the overwhelming odds and danger, she endures extreme sacrifice to find her lost love David Simpson.
One of many surprises the book contains is the appearance of Artemis (Goddess of the Moon) who's following is a group of women called the Wiccans. Many were shot or set on fire by a lunatic evangelist called Bobby Ingram.
He is one of my favorite characters, a revolutionary evangelist who broadcasts on the news and radio for his extremist followers to take up arms against Elizabeth as God's enemy. His speeches reflected his insanity and reminds me of Waco, Texas.
Another event that I found very fascinating is when Cynara (freed by Elizabeth to help her make retribution to David) and Elizabeth melted into transparent separate pools. The pools then started to form what became an eagle and an owl. A perfect disguise to try to elude the many enemies.
In the end Elizabeth endures attacks from Bobby Ingram's thousands of followers, scores of demons and a person who can astral project themselves and a trained assassin named Jurgen. Will she succeed in her quest? Highly recommended to anyone who likes paranormal and/or horror novels. A great conclusion to a very well written triolgy
The author is a gifted story teller along with an amazing imagination which permeates through the last book of The Converging Trilogy, "Closures In Blood". I will focus my review on the events of the novel I found intriguing and thoroughly entertaining and less on the plot.
First a little background information. At the end of bk#2 of the trilogy, Elizabeth killed herself instead of her son which despite being evil she could not bring herself to do. Nathaniel was one of Cynara's enemies who also held Elizabeth under her dark, evil spell. Once free of Cynara's hold on her she spent five years as an immortal during which she developed compassion, debated moral consequences to her actions and became a very caring entity.
Few authors can portray a character like Elizabeth for almost two entire novels then convince a reader that the deep down moral fabric of the character is in essence very pure. Author George Straatman achieved this very successfully.
In "Closures In Blood", Elizabeth faces a complex scheme by demons who are afraid of her. Despite the overwhelming odds and danger, she endures extreme sacrifice to find her lost love David Simpson.
One of many surprises the book contains is the appearance of Artemis (Goddess of the Moon) who's following is a group of women called the Wiccans. Many were shot or set on fire by a lunatic evangelist called Bobby Ingram.
He is one of my favorite characters, a revolutionary evangelist who broadcasts on the news and radio for his extremist followers to take up arms against Elizabeth as God's enemy. His speeches reflected his insanity and reminds me of Waco, Texas.
Another event that I found very fascinating is when Cynara (freed by Elizabeth to help her make retribution to David) and Elizabeth melted into transparent separate pools. The pools then started to form what became an eagle and an owl. A perfect disguise to try to elude the many enemies.
In the end Elizabeth endures attacks from Bobby Ingram's thousands of followers, scores of demons and a person who can astral project themselves and a trained assassin named Jurgen. Will she succeed in her quest? Highly recommended to anyone who likes paranormal and/or horror novels. A great conclusion to a very well written triolgy
Monday, May 3, 2010
Review On www.smashwords.com
Review by: Brian DeGrechie on Dec. 29, 2009 : (Remove)
Hi George Straatman: I am happy I found this novel on Smashwords. "The Converging" is one of the best books I have ever read. The writing style is unusual and comparable to only Clive Barker and Dean Koontz that writes in a similar way that I can think of. It has been a long time since I have read a book so fascinating and captivating. I was impressed by the sheer number of descriptive words you use to express so many events in the book vividly.I enjoyed the way you described the thinking each character had. It portrayed a very good insight of the characters. Cynara is the ultimate villian considering her unlimited powers, brutality and love of theactrics. The plot has many twists and turns and kept me reading the novel quickly. Unlike most books the ending I could not guess. I would recommend this book to anyone whom enjoys horror or fantasy novels. "The Converging" contains elements of both. I wish you well in your endeavours to publish more books as after reading the novel, I am a admirer of your work, Brian
Hi George Straatman: I am happy I found this novel on Smashwords. "The Converging" is one of the best books I have ever read. The writing style is unusual and comparable to only Clive Barker and Dean Koontz that writes in a similar way that I can think of. It has been a long time since I have read a book so fascinating and captivating. I was impressed by the sheer number of descriptive words you use to express so many events in the book vividly.I enjoyed the way you described the thinking each character had. It portrayed a very good insight of the characters. Cynara is the ultimate villian considering her unlimited powers, brutality and love of theactrics. The plot has many twists and turns and kept me reading the novel quickly. Unlike most books the ending I could not guess. I would recommend this book to anyone whom enjoys horror or fantasy novels. "The Converging" contains elements of both. I wish you well in your endeavours to publish more books as after reading the novel, I am a admirer of your work, Brian
Sunday, May 2, 2010
review
Sandra Degrechie rated it: 5/5 stars.
Read in September, 2009
This book had it all.The main character Cynara is the queen of evil.She is charismatic,intelligent, a thing of beauty but also a vile wicked creature.She terrorizes for fun but met her match with the opposite to her malevolence.Elizabeth a sweet, down to earth beauty that knocks this creature ten ways from Sunday.It keeps you guessing with memorable good guys and detestable bad guys.You feel the pain and suffering, the torture Cynara does is indisputably in my opinion way up there in the ratings...more This book had it all.The main character Cynara is the queen of evil.She is charismatic,intelligent, a thing of beauty but also a vile wicked creature.She terrorizes for fun but met her match with the opposite to her malevolence.Elizabeth a sweet, down to earth beauty that knocks this creature ten ways from Sunday.It keeps you guessing with memorable good guys and detestable bad guys.You feel the pain and suffering, the torture Cynara does is indisputably in my opinion way up there in the ratings of the top Vampire,Fantasy books i've read so far.A definite must read.It has everything men and women alike would enjoy.I had a hard time putting it down.Some scenes were hair-raising, nail-biting, at the edge of your seat frightening and others were way to go give it to him!!! Its fast packed action is brilliantly orchestrated from the time you start til the time you finish reading the book. You won't regret it you'll want to read more
Read in September, 2009
This book had it all.The main character Cynara is the queen of evil.She is charismatic,intelligent, a thing of beauty but also a vile wicked creature.She terrorizes for fun but met her match with the opposite to her malevolence.Elizabeth a sweet, down to earth beauty that knocks this creature ten ways from Sunday.It keeps you guessing with memorable good guys and detestable bad guys.You feel the pain and suffering, the torture Cynara does is indisputably in my opinion way up there in the ratings...more This book had it all.The main character Cynara is the queen of evil.She is charismatic,intelligent, a thing of beauty but also a vile wicked creature.She terrorizes for fun but met her match with the opposite to her malevolence.Elizabeth a sweet, down to earth beauty that knocks this creature ten ways from Sunday.It keeps you guessing with memorable good guys and detestable bad guys.You feel the pain and suffering, the torture Cynara does is indisputably in my opinion way up there in the ratings of the top Vampire,Fantasy books i've read so far.A definite must read.It has everything men and women alike would enjoy.I had a hard time putting it down.Some scenes were hair-raising, nail-biting, at the edge of your seat frightening and others were way to go give it to him!!! Its fast packed action is brilliantly orchestrated from the time you start til the time you finish reading the book. You won't regret it you'll want to read more
review
status: Read in August, 2009
review: Hi George Straatman: I am happy that i found your book on this site. "The Converging" is one of the best books I have ever read that in writing style is unusual and I can only think of Clive Barker and Dean Koontz that writes in a similar way. It has been a long time since I have read a book so fascinating and captivating. The sheer number of descriptive words impressed upon me the extreme knowledge of your vocabulary. The character development is fantastic and I like the way you added...more Hi George Straatman: I am happy that i found your book on this site. "The Converging" is one of the best books I have ever read that in writing style is unusual and I can only think of Clive Barker and Dean Koontz that writes in a similar way. It has been a long time since I have read a book so fascinating and captivating. The sheer number of descriptive words impressed upon me the extreme knowledge of your vocabulary. The character development is fantastic and I like the way you added what each was thinking to give me a very good insight of the characters. Cynara is the ultimate villain considering her unlimited powers, brutality and love of the theatrics. The plot has many twists and turns that kept me reading at a very fast pace. Unlike most books the ending I could not guess. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror or fantasy novels. "The Converging" contains many elements of both. I wish you well in your endeavours to publish more books as after reading that novel, I am a admirer and fan of your work, Brian
review: Hi George Straatman: I am happy that i found your book on this site. "The Converging" is one of the best books I have ever read that in writing style is unusual and I can only think of Clive Barker and Dean Koontz that writes in a similar way. It has been a long time since I have read a book so fascinating and captivating. The sheer number of descriptive words impressed upon me the extreme knowledge of your vocabulary. The character development is fantastic and I like the way you added...more Hi George Straatman: I am happy that i found your book on this site. "The Converging" is one of the best books I have ever read that in writing style is unusual and I can only think of Clive Barker and Dean Koontz that writes in a similar way. It has been a long time since I have read a book so fascinating and captivating. The sheer number of descriptive words impressed upon me the extreme knowledge of your vocabulary. The character development is fantastic and I like the way you added what each was thinking to give me a very good insight of the characters. Cynara is the ultimate villain considering her unlimited powers, brutality and love of the theatrics. The plot has many twists and turns that kept me reading at a very fast pace. Unlike most books the ending I could not guess. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror or fantasy novels. "The Converging" contains many elements of both. I wish you well in your endeavours to publish more books as after reading that novel, I am a admirer and fan of your work, Brian
The Life And Literary Works Of Timmins Author Geroge Straatman
The Rise of the E-book
READ AN E-BOOK WEEK - MARCH 7TH - 13TH
HTTP://WWW.SMASHWORDS.COM
The proliferation of the e-reader may be the most profound change to the publishing industry since the advent of the internet...I believe that it is an innovation with virtually no downside and will provide benefits to every aspect of the industry. I think that the environmental impact of this technology should be self-evident and so I won't devote any time to elaboration...Instead, I would like to talk about why I have made the decision to embrace the e-reader...as both a reader and a writer. From a reader's perspective, books are cheaper, readily available and won't require that you have to invest in a bigger house if, like me, you wish to hang on to your books. The devices do have their limitations and are presently not well-suited to manga, and other forms of books with high graphics content, but if you spend most of your reading time with simple text novels, they are ideal. Taking the Amazon Kindle as an example...the device holds up to 1500 novels, can down-load directly to the device and is ergonomically well-designed and portable. For the cynical, I would point out how so many companies are offering their own versions of the technology and how so many publishers have jumped on the bandwagon of making their products available in e-book format as an indicator of how the media giants view the future importance of this evolving technology.
As a writer, the e-book has given me access to markets that my small paper publisher never would have been able to deliver. Smashwords has allowed fledgling authors the opportunity to deliver their works to markets that were essentially closed just a few years ago. Thanks to this indie publisher, I can now sell my works on Amazon, the Sony reader store and Barnes and Noble and have been able to do so while preserving the artistic integrity of the story I wished to tell. What's more, I have been able to achieve this previously unimaginable goal without have to plunge myself into utter penury as the production costs of an e-book are a mere fraction of what the paper sibling would be.
This is why the final segment of my Converging Trilogy will begin its life as an e-book. Closures in Blood should soon be ready for public consumption. I am pleased with the concluding volume, just as I have been with the trilogy as a whole.
As the banner at the top of this post would indicate, The week of Marchth has been designated 'read and e-book week'. I would encourage every reader to spend some time during that week familiarizing themselves with the technology that is now available to deliver e-books. Both the e-book and e-reader are not a passing fad...rather they are a step forward in the advancement of our industry and can a tremendous benefit to both the consumers of the written word and those who weave those words together...take care...and by the way, Cynara and Elizabeth send their regards!
READ AN E-BOOK WEEK - MARCH 7TH - 13TH
HTTP://WWW.SMASHWORDS.COM
The proliferation of the e-reader may be the most profound change to the publishing industry since the advent of the internet...I believe that it is an innovation with virtually no downside and will provide benefits to every aspect of the industry. I think that the environmental impact of this technology should be self-evident and so I won't devote any time to elaboration...Instead, I would like to talk about why I have made the decision to embrace the e-reader...as both a reader and a writer. From a reader's perspective, books are cheaper, readily available and won't require that you have to invest in a bigger house if, like me, you wish to hang on to your books. The devices do have their limitations and are presently not well-suited to manga, and other forms of books with high graphics content, but if you spend most of your reading time with simple text novels, they are ideal. Taking the Amazon Kindle as an example...the device holds up to 1500 novels, can down-load directly to the device and is ergonomically well-designed and portable. For the cynical, I would point out how so many companies are offering their own versions of the technology and how so many publishers have jumped on the bandwagon of making their products available in e-book format as an indicator of how the media giants view the future importance of this evolving technology.
As a writer, the e-book has given me access to markets that my small paper publisher never would have been able to deliver. Smashwords has allowed fledgling authors the opportunity to deliver their works to markets that were essentially closed just a few years ago. Thanks to this indie publisher, I can now sell my works on Amazon, the Sony reader store and Barnes and Noble and have been able to do so while preserving the artistic integrity of the story I wished to tell. What's more, I have been able to achieve this previously unimaginable goal without have to plunge myself into utter penury as the production costs of an e-book are a mere fraction of what the paper sibling would be.
This is why the final segment of my Converging Trilogy will begin its life as an e-book. Closures in Blood should soon be ready for public consumption. I am pleased with the concluding volume, just as I have been with the trilogy as a whole.
As the banner at the top of this post would indicate, The week of Marchth has been designated 'read and e-book week'. I would encourage every reader to spend some time during that week familiarizing themselves with the technology that is now available to deliver e-books. Both the e-book and e-reader are not a passing fad...rather they are a step forward in the advancement of our industry and can a tremendous benefit to both the consumers of the written word and those who weave those words together...take care...and by the way, Cynara and Elizabeth send their regards!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
George Straatman embarked on a twenty year journey to create the trilogy "The Converging" in the early 1980's. He diligently researched several books on demons, the occult and mythology as was common belief predominantly between the fourteenth to the sixteenth century. His three novels are an accumulation of thousands of hours of work. They differ from the vigilante trend prevalent in many horror novels written in the past several years. It is noteworthy to mention that the seemingly unstoppable demon entities are two female antagonist along with another who is protagonist. To destroy the two demons, Cynara and Elizabeth, is some mere mortals to accomplish such a daunting task. His novels reflect the notion that not everything that appears to the reader as absolute is not the case when one completes reading them. George Straatman has also already wrote several fantasy books awaiting publication. The readers who have read the trilogy acknowledge the uniqueness of the novels as they are highly rated.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Converging Bk3 "Closures In Blood"
Ebook By George Straatman
Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Apr. 08, 2010
Category: Fiction » Literature » Horror (YA and A only)
Words: 227675 (approximate)
Language: English
[add to library]
Ebook Description
After destroying Cynara, Elizabeth Simpson returns home in search of the one man she’s ever loved and absolution for sins committed under the demon’s thrall. Reviled by Heaven and hell and pursued across a dying America by zealots and satanic assassins, she turns to a sworn enemy…a dark mistress who is her one hope of eluding her relentless pursuers and finding closure and redemption.
The Converging Book #2 Mark Of The Demon by George Straatman
Our day of reckoning will come, though not for some years. Know this; you cannot die unless I allow you to. I can cause you to suffer a limitless amount of agony if I so choose." The Baroness Cynara Saravic to a young Nathaniel Simpson. After laying waste to the small Washington town of Semelar, the Demon Cynara Saravic leaves the United States with her coveted prize firmly in her grasp. Paving a bloody road of death and despair, that leads her from a remote village in Northern Mexico through the very home of the Roman Catholic Church, Cynara returns to her ancestral homeland of Romania to bask in her triumph and enjoy the spoils of her conquest. The ancient soil resonates with the agonized screams of Cynara’s past victims and these bloody ghosts cry out for retribution. The children of these restless victims will converge upon Cynara, intent upon forever purging her evil from the world. Among them will come Nathaniel Simpson and Jimmy Simms, two men driven to pursue a seemingly unstoppable monst Our day of reckoning will come, though not for some years. Know this; you cannot die unless I allow you to. I can cause you to suffer a limitless amount of agony if I so choose." The Baroness Cynara Saravic to a young Nathaniel Simpson. After laying waste to the small Washington town of Semelar, the Demon Cynara Saravic leaves the United States with her coveted prize firmly in her grasp. Paving a bloody road of death and despair, that leads her from a remote village in Northern Mexico through the very home of the Roman Catholic Church, Cynara returns to her ancestral homeland of Romania to bask in her triumph and enjoy the spoils of her conquest. The ancient soil resonates with the agonized screams of Cynara’s past victims and these bloody ghosts cry out for retribution. The children of these restless victims will converge upon Cynara, intent upon forever purging her evil from the world. Among them will come Nathaniel Simpson and Jimmy Simms, two men driven to pursue a seemingly unstoppable monst
The Coverging by George Straatman
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[close] The first offering from Amberdias Publishing, “The Converging” is a darkly intense horror story set in the state of Washington in the early eighties.
Lost in the majestic forests of the Pacific Northwest, Semelar was a sleepy town where time flowed like a meandering river. Semelar, was home to Elizabeth Simpson, a jewel whose radiance rivaled a diamond set on a bed of velvet. This jewel would draw the attention of a powerful and rapacious evil intent upon possessing its beauty. In evil's wake would come others who lived only to purge blackness from the world. Together they would descend on Semelar and draw the unsuspecting town into the maelstrom that is the Converging.
When David Stillman returned to his birthplace of Semelar, Washington, intent on exorcising the demons of a childhood marred by poverty and alcoholism, he never suspected he would rekindle the one true love of his life. He also discovered the disturbing whisper of long-departed ghosts and a town beset by violence and spiralling toward madness. Against this backdrop of gruesome death and carnage, he and a small band of allies must find the strength and courage to confront a demon of unimaginable power and guile. Only by exposing the true face of Evil can he protect the woman he loves and survive the horror of the Converging. [close]
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